Tag Archives: Firestone

The new Firestone Destination M/T2 tire from Bridgestone Americas Inc. is designed to provide maximum traction for 4×4 vehicles, pickup trucks and SUVs in off-road conditions.

The next-generation tire replaces the Firestone Destination M/T, which came out in 2002. Bridgestone says the M/T2 tire “does everything better” than its predecessor. Advances in tire technology, especially compounding, are responsible for improvements in off-road, snow and wet performance.

A new tread compound, three-ply sidewall construction and more aggressive upper sidewall lugs give the Destination M/T2 increased traction in mud and offer stronger resistance to chips and tears.

To maximize traction in mud, Bridgestone placed the tire lugs at 23-degree angles, an innovation borrowed from its farm tractor tires. The “23-degree attack angles” provide more pulling power through rough terrain, according to the company. Stone and mud rejectors help keep the tread clear of debris.

The Firestone Destination M/T2 tire has 20% more biting edges than the predecessor tire for better grip on slick, wet surfaces and in snow conditions. The company also added sipes for better snow traction capability compared to the prior tire. In addition, the Firestone Destination M/T2 tire is studdable.

“For that type of customer we’ve significantly improved the off-road performance capabilities versus the current generation Destination M/T on dry rocks, wet rocks, creeks, mud and sand. In all of these types of off-road conditions, the traction capabilities of the Destination M/T2 have been improved.”

Hayes says the other type of driver who would purchase an M/T tire primarily cares about the look of the product.

“For this type of driver the Destination M/T2 has a much more aggressive look and design than the previous generation product. The tread area has been totally redesigned. The off shoulder area has more rubber and a more protruding image for the driver who wants the tire to look aggressive.”

Hayes specified two areas of “marked improvement” versus the earlier tire. The combination of the new tread compound and new lug design significantly improved chip tear and lug tear performance. The addition of siping to the tread pattern is a contributing factor to improved snow handling capability.

The Firestone Destination M/T2 tire is available in 29 sizes for 15- to 22-inch wheels. The fitments include three 37-inch tires. Delivery to stores begins in July. Most of the tires will be made at the Bridgestone plant in Joliette, Quebec.

Hayes says the Destination M/T2 pricing will be similar to its predecessor, giving drivers additional performance and capability at no additional cost.

“For the Destination M/T2 we targeted best-in-class performance without charging the highest price in the industry. We feel this product will offer tremendous value for someone looking for an M/T tire.”

Key fitments for the Destination M/T2 are the Toyota Tacoma TRD, Jeep Wrangler and Jeep Rubicon. The M/T2 will compete against the BFGoodrich T/A KM2 and the Toyo Open Country M/T.

Bridgestone Americas Inc. is adding an all-position, wide-base radial truck tire to its Firestone lineup. The Firestone FS818 is designed for on-and-off-highway applications and severe service environments.

The tire’s wide-base design is designed for higher payloads and improved flotation. It features special tread compounds to help resist cuts, chips, tearing and irregular wear.
The Firestone FS818 is designed with a deep, self-cleaning tread pattern for aggressive traction and long original mileage. Stone rejector platforms in every groove offer durability.

block sipes to slice through water and provide solid grip on wet roads;
four steel belts to extend casing life while providing protection from cuts and punctures;
sidewall protector ribs to fight against cuts, snags and abrasions; and
block design and edges to perform in on/off highway environments.
The Firestone FS818 tire is available in these sizes:

The new Firestone Destination M/T2 tire from Bridgestone Americas Inc. is designed to provide maximum traction for 4×4 vehicles, pickup trucks and SUVs in off-road conditions.

The new tire replaces the Firestone Destination M/T, which came out in 2002. Bridgestone says the new M/T2 tire “does everything better” than its predecessor. Advances in tire technology, especially compounding, are responsible for improvements in off-road, snow and wet performance.

A new tread compound, three-ply sidewall construction and more aggressive upper sidewall design give the Destination M/T2 increased traction in mud and offer stronger resistance to chips and tears. Stone and mud rejectors help keep the tread clear of debris.

The Firestone Destination M/T2 tire has 20% more biting edges than the previous generation tire for better grip on slick, wet surfaces and in snow conditions. The company also added sipes for better snow traction capability compared to the prior tire. The Firestone Destination M/T2 tire is studdable.

Product manager Justin Hayes told Modern Tire Dealer that there are two types of buyers of the new Firestone Destination M/T2 tire. “There’s one who really cares about the performance, he’s going to take his truck or Jeep off road and he wants the traction capability,” he says.

“For that type of customer we’ve significantly improved the off-road performance capabilities versus the current generation Destination M/T on dry rocks, wet rocks, creeks, mud and sand. In all of these types of off-road conditions, the traction capabilities of the Destination M/T2 have been improved versus the predecessor product.”

Hayes says the other type of driver who would purchase an M/T tire primarily cares about the looks of the product. “For this type of driver the Destination M/T2 has a much more aggressive look and feel than the previous generation product. The tread area has been totally redesigned, the off shoulder area has more rubber and a more aggressive protruding image for the driver who wants the tire to look aggressive.”

The Firestone Destination M/T2 tire is available in 29 sizes for 15- to 22-inch wheels. The tires will be delivered to stores in July 2017.

“The Firestone Destination M/T2 tire is the ultimate tire for adventure-seekers looking to get the most performance out of their truck or Jeep,” says Erik Seidel, president, consumer replacement tire sales, U.S. and Canada, Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations.

“Overlanders and weekend warriors expect their tires to perform across a wide range of intense conditions, and the Destination M/T2 delivers an incredible off-road driving experience. We built a tough tire that attacks the terrain.”

Like this:

Every year, Modern Tire Dealer breaks down “the year that was” in its January Facts Issue. It is the first publication with an in-depth report on the previous year’s performance.

In order for readers to understand what the numbers mean, we also 1) show trends and 2) analyze what we have found. Is our Facts Issue heavy with numbers? Sure. Are they stand-alone numbers? Heavens no!

In our latest edition, we look at the number of retail dealers and outlets represented by the brands listed in our yearly Modern Tire Dealer 100 list. More Top 100 dealers sell Michelin than any other brand. What other consumer tire brands are commonplace among the largest tire dealers in the U.S.? And does comparing past with present numbers reveal any trends?

The answer to the last question is “yes.” On page 27 of our Facts Issue, we rank the most commonly listed brands by the number of dealers who sell them from 2006 through 2016. To give you a quick, visual snapshot of what those numbers reveal, here is a Web-only line graph that breaks down the brand-to-dealer ratio over time.

Not surprisingly, many of the dealers selling one of the three Tier 1 brands also sell another brand from the same tire manufacturer.

Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations LLC says it has closed the safety recall it issued May 6, 2016, after determining that the incident involved only eight tires of a single size, and none ever left the company’s possession.

The company says, “After further intense lot tracing, inspection and validation, we have determined that only eight tire units of one tire size (Firestone Champion with Fuel Fighter Technology in size 205/70R15) were impacted by a production error at our Wilson, N.C. passenger tire plant, and we now know all impacted units are contained and never left our company’s possession. There is no safety concern and we have closed this safety recall.

“We have notified the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and are working to have the original recall filing amended to reflect this information. We are communicating with our retail and dealer networks to advise them as well. We exercised an extraordinary amount of caution and filed a safety recall notice with NHTSA before a thorough investigation could be completed in order to comply with the five-day filing requirements stipulated by NHTSA.”

Bridgestone says consumers with questions about the safety of their Bridgestone or Firestone tires may call 1-844-293-7514, or locate an authorized Firestone dealer to examine the tires in question.

The potential number of tires affected is 32. Bridgestone says it is voluntarily recalling approximately 2,900 tires in “an abundance of caution.”

The company says these replacement passenger car tires may have been manufactured with inconsistent rubber coverage over the steel plies. As a result, the tread may separate, increasing the risk of a crash.

Bridgestone will notify the owners that purchased the tires, and dealers will replace the tires, free of charge. Bridgestone has not yet provided a notification schedule. Owners may contact Bridgestone customer service at 1-800-847-3272.

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to http://www.safercar.gov.

Bridgestone Americas has released the Firestone Champion with Fuel Fighter Technology tire for cars and minivans.
The fuel-efficient tire is backed by a 70,000 mile limited treadwear warranty and offers all season performance in dry, wet and winter driving conditions, Bridgestone said. The Firestone Champion tire will replace the Firestone Affinity and Precision touring tires and is engineered with a 30% improved rolling resistance over its predecessors, the tiremaker said.

Firestone launched its first Champion passenger tire in the 1930s. Today’s reintroduction of the Champion name for Firestone passenger tires coincides with the 115-year old brand’s journey, Bridgestone said. The Champion is available in the United States and Canada, in 48 sizes, 14″ to 18″ wheel diameters.

Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations LLC (BATO) is recalling one size of its Firestone FS561 tire sold in the United States and Canada between April 2015 and January 2016. The voluntary safety recall is limited to FS561 tires in size 255/70R22.5 and only those tires that are installed in the trailer application.

BATO estimates 36,000 FS561 tires in size 255/70R22.5 are subject to this recall.

All products in question were manufactured between February 2015 and Jan. 27, 2016 (DOT weeks 0515 – 0416). All other FS561 sizes and applications are not included as part of this recall.

The company says the voluntary recall was initiated as a result of an elevated number of warranty adjustment returns for tread separation and/or detachment on tires in the severe service trailer application.

The subject tires, when used in the severe service trailer application, may experience scrubbing which may result in an increased risk of a tread separation and/or detachment, which could contribute to a vehicle crash without warning. These tires do not exhibit an increased risk for this condition in any other application or service condition. There are no known accidents or injuries, according to BATO.

BATO and other relevant Bridgestone subsidiaries are communicating and working with regulatory agencies in the United States and Canada to recover the tires in accordance with local laws.

The companies are communicating with company-owned stores, authorized dealers and end-user customers to recover and replace any subject tires. BATO will replace FS561 tires installed in the trailer application for free with the FS560 Plus or comparable Bridgestone or Firestone brand tire.

Owners of tires subject to this recall are urged to contact their authorized Bridgestone and Firestone dealer or company-owned service center to arrange verification and replacement.

“Firestone is a brand that appeals to the work hard, play hard mantra,” says Mike Martini, president, original equipment, U.S. and Canada Consumer Tire Sales Divisions, Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations.

“The all-new Toyota Tacoma is an adventure-seeking vehicle ready to work, making it the perfect vehicle to highlight the all-season performance of the Firestone Destination LE2 tire.”

Bridgestone Americas will offer consumers a “Special Edition” of its Firestone Destination A/T tire for light trucks. The tire will feature an etched sidewall designed to appeal to outdoor enthusiasts, the tiremaker said.

“The exclusive etched sidewall design of the Firestone Destination A/T Special Edition tire is a feat of design and engineering innovation that we look forward to developing for use in other Bridgestone and Firestone tire offerings,” said Justin Hayes, product manager for Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations.
The Firestone Destination A/T delivers on-road handling with off-road capability and features a 50,000 mile limited treadwear warranty. An optimized tread pattern creates a smooth, quiet ride, and its deep sipes and aggressive tread design add traction in mud and snow, Bridgestone said.

The Firestone Destination A/T Special Edition is available in 11 sizes from 15”-20”.